How do we overcome depression and anxiety?
This is a comprehensive topic that is very common in the world today. Everyone goes through depression and anxiety. There are lists of what causes these two terms, though one leads to the other. Anxiety, when not controlled, can lead to depression, which in turn leads to something else in the body, especially causing all kinds of sicknesses.
I listened to Bro Eli's teaching on the biblical way to overcome depression and anxiety. I would say they are very correct because I have been there before until I discovered the truth and did what the word of God said.
In this video made by Bro Eli, he shared ways to overcome them with scriptures to back up, which are something we shouldn't take unseriously because they work.
I never knew I had fallen into depression until later in life when I got to know what it truly means. This was a time I lost my mom, who was the one taking care of us. I thought that was the end of life, and I wouldn't continue my education until everything changed. What I was worried and anxious about were things God helped me through, and looking back now, I can say that instead of being worried, I turn to God.
Many people have gone into depression to the extent of committing suicide. But for those who found the right solution, they lived longer until God says it was time for them to leave the world. According to Bro Eli, he narrated the story of Lazarus, the poor beggar and the rich man who lived his life in luxury until they both died. The Bible tells us that Lazarus went to heaven while the rich man went to hell.
What Bro Eli was trying to convey in the story is that death is no respecter of persons. Whether poor or rich, young or old, educated or uneducated, everyone will die when the time comes. Our lives shouldn't revolve around anxiety or depression, but rather to believe in God's word in Philippians 4 vs 6 - 7, which was quoted in the video.
It says that instead of being anxious about life - what to eat, wear, our future, marriage, success, etc, we should bring all to God and lay our requests at His feet. God knows our need and understands that we cannot do anything on our own, meaning we are helpless. But when we rely on our efforts and understanding, that is when we feel all hope is lost, and then we tend to switch into anxiety and depression.
If we are to be sincere with ourselves, there's absolutely nothing to be worried about because, at the end of the day, what will happen will happen. Only God can change the course of things, and if anything should happen, no one can stop it. I have had to worry that, after a while, I see how foolish I have been to have disturbed myself over what would or would not happen.
Whatever we are worried about, let's take it to God, just as Bro Eli has said. All we need to do is to make our request known to our Father, and He is ready to help us, giving us peace that transcends all understanding.
Aside from this, we learnt from the video that as Christians, we should not be thinking about those worldly things that won't last, instead we should fix our minds on the things of heaven where Christ is seated in the place of honour at the right hand side of God - Colossians 3 vs 1.
Just as Lazarus, a poor man, gained eternal life because he focused on heaven, while the rich man focused on his worldly possessions. Just because we are Christians doesn't exclude us from enjoying life, but we are made to understand that our treasures are in heaven. Though we are called to enjoy life, we should be careful so we don't lose sight of the important things, because what does it profit a man to gain the whole world to himself, but lose his soul?
Bro Eli also cited the example of the thief on the cross with our lord Jesus Christ. With such a short time left, he pleaded for Jesus to have mercy on him, and he gained eternal life because he focused on heaven. As Christians, our home is in heaven, where eternal life is real and secured for us. The world will pass away with its things, and the only place where we will live forever is in heaven.
Therefore, let us not be anxious about anything, but by prayer and supplication, let our requests be made known to God, who can give us peace that the world cannot provide. I enjoyed Bro Eli's teaching on overcoming depression and anxiety, and I strongly believe that when we are in Christ, there's nothing to be worried about because Jesus has already overcome the world. God has solutions for whatever we may be going through. All we need to do is obey what He says.
This is my entry to the MGCI topic review.
